self-driving ‘bubblic’ public transport can shuttle mobile smart farms, deliveries or commuters

On-demand public transportation ‘bubblic public’ by move lab

Bubbles inspire the concept Bubblic Public, a type of self-driving and on-demand public transportation that can be described as a multipurpose carriage on the road. Conceptualized by the design group Move Lab and researchers of ID+IM Lab, it can transport passengers, goods, and other deliveries as well as mobile smart farms.

Just like bubbles, it can appear out of nowhere and show up for different commuters and users in various areas as ordered. The interior and exterior of the vehicle are flexible. Modular units make up the interior, making it easy to switch from benches and seats for commuters to trays for plants and goods to be transferred and delivered.

all images courtesy of Move Lab

Flexible chassis inspired by bamboo ‘culm’, or stems

Bubblic Public has a bamboo system-inspired chassis and inflatable airbags called ‘bubbles.’ Because of this, Move Lab turns the vehicle’s frame into gentle slopes. These inflatable bubbles are made from thermoplastic polyurethane. Since they are movable, they can also be easily replaced if damaged or maintenance is needed. The design team plans to install these bubbles around areas people touch, like the walls and seat cushions.

In this way, they can just lean on the ‘bubble’ for comfort and protection. The vehicle manager, or anyone who oversees its control, can also change the seating layout inside and rearrange it thanks to the seat matrix already aligned on the floor. Bubblic Public also has an app through which users can join a rideshare group or hop on the nearest available on-demand public transportation.

Bubblic Public displaying their ‘purpose’ on the side of the on-demand public transportation

Bubblic public exists alongside cars on roads

Move Lab sees Bubblic Public traveling on normal roads alongside cars and other vehicles. The design team says it doesn’t need heavy infrastructure to work and may have no impact on the existing system. The modular units help make the vehicle easy to maintain, as well as the extendable and flexible chassis that adapts to the needs.

The on-demand public transportation also has entrances and exits at the front, back, and even on the sides of the bubbles. They open up at the stop as the air suspension lowers the vehicle and the ramps slide out. These ramps can also help people with wheelchairs, bicycles, and other wheeled mediums get their objects onto Bubblic Public.

view of Move Lab’s Bubblic Public as on-demand public transportation

When the on-demand public transportation needs to deliver goods and other packages, the seats inside are set aside to make way for other layouts such as shelves and drawers. Since the vehicle is self-driving, its technology uses localization to detect where the commuters or users are, drive there, and pick them up on its own. While it may take experiments and research to carry this out, Move Lab is positive that its Bubblic Public is more flexible, versatile, and sustainable than the existing public transportation.

Bubblic Public is a project designed during the class ID430 Mobility Design, taught by Professor Hyunjoon Park at ID KAIST. The two post-graduate researchers, Jungwoo Kim and Geunyong Park from ID+IM Lab, worked under the direction of the professor, who is also the Director at Move Lab, together with Professor Sangmin Bae.

Move Lab’s Bubblic Public can also deliver smart farms on board the on-demand public transportation